Tragedy struck a cloth trader’s family here when six members, including four-month-old twin sisters and three other children, were burnt alive in a fire triggered by a suspected electrical malfunction at their three-storey house, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 8 on Monday night at Kidwai Nagar in the Lisadi Gate area. Seven persons were admitted to hospital with burn injuries, of whom six died, Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey told reporters. Police confirmed the deaths after midnight.
The house belongs to Iqbal Ahmed, whose family is engaged in tailoring and an online garment business. A large quantity of clothing material was stored on the ground floor, which officials said could have aided the rapid spread of the fire.
The blaze is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault in a machine or home appliance, they said. The deceased have been identified as Rukhsar (25), Mahbish (12), Hammad (4), Akdas (4), Nabia and Inayat (4 months).
According to officials, some male members of the family had gone to offer Taraweeh namaz at the nearby Surahi Wali Masjid when the fire broke out, leaving others inside the house.
Eyewitnesses said residents rushed to the spot after hearing screams from inside the house and alerted the police and fire department. They said fire tenders could not reach the exact location directly because of the narrow lanes in the locality.
CM Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
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